August 18, 2023
Hello AAPS Community,
What an exciting time in the Ann Arbor Public Schools as we gear up for the 2023-2024 school year.
We are thrilled to welcome back our teachers and staff to our school campuses, and we are all scurrying to prepare for the arrival of our students for the first day of school, Monday, August 28th.
If you have not already heard directly from your child’s school, you can expect back-to-school updates coming via email next week.
I want to share some basic AAPS district information regarding the school calendar, the state of Michigan’s new program for breakfast and lunch for all students, updates on student health and well-being, Rec and Ed programs and opportunities, and general transportation information.
2023-2024 School Year Calendar
The calendar for the upcoming school year is available here.
Please note that since we originally shared the calendar, we have added February 27th as a day of no school for students and staff due to the Presidential Primary (polling occurs in our schools), and completed some adjustments regarding testing days for middle school and high school level students.
Food Service
We are delighted that Michigan’s 1.4 million public school children will be receiving nutritious free meals at school this year as a result of a $160 million appropriation in the state’s School Aid budget adopted by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
You may review more information here about our next steps with breakfast and lunch available for all students for no cost during the 2023-24 school year.
Important: To support accurate data during this transition, the state is requiring all families to fill out the Free and Reduced Lunch application or the Education Benefit form for families with students attending Community Eligibility Provision (CFP) designated schools.
You can learn more about the program here, and you will also receive information directly from your school.
Student Health and Well-Being
Immunizations are an important step for student and school health.
All preschool, Y5, K and 7th-grade students and new families must complete required immunizations by the first day of school.
Any new students to the district, including new Young 5 and new Kindergarteners, must submit proof of full immunization to your school office before the first day of school. Immunization waivers are available only by appointment from the Washtenaw County Health Department.
Our partners at the Washtenaw County Health Department are still finalizing specific guidelines around COVID-19. Information about COVID, including how to report student and staff cases, will be sent as soon as available. Our AAPS schools will remain a welcoming place for individuals who choose to wear masks.
The AAPS Community Resources page at a2schools.org/communityresources provides information about resources available to families for help with food, basic needs, healthcare and other community services.
Community Education and Recreation
Rec & Ed’s Before and After Care program still has openings at the following sites: Abbot, Allen/Pittsfield, Carpenter, Lakewood, and Mitchell.
Please call 734-994-2300 ext. 0 to register your child.
After-school enrichment class registration is open at aarecedonline.com. Class options (per school) can be found here. Other youth enrichment opportunities can be found here, and youth instructional sports classes here.
The Adapted program for youth and adults with mental or physical disabilities has been expanded to include dance classes. All adapted classes can be found here.
First Steps/Early Childhood is having an Open House on Wednesday, Sept 6th, from 4 to 5 PM for new families who are interested in classes for babies and children ages birth-5 years old. Tour the facility, meet the instructors, and play in our large classroom. All Early Childhood enrichment classes can be found here and instructional sports classes can be found here.
Scholarships are available for all Rec & Ed youth activities.
Transportation
Bus routes and schedules, including AAATA options, are available on our website here.
We’re excited to welcome back our more than 17,000 students on Monday, August 28th, as we kick off the 2023-2024 school year.
